I’m starting out this post with a sentiment that my entire family felt as we drove home from our quick fall break trip to South Bend…this northern Indiana town is HIGHLY underrated! We packed a lot of activities into a one and half day trip but we loved it.
For reference, I made this trip with my husband and our three kids who were ages 6, 4, and 2 at the time.
Our Itinerary Summary:
Day 1:
Indiana Dinosaur Museum
South Bend Chocolate Factory
Lunch at South Bend Public House
Potawatomi Zoo
Howard Park
Hotel Check-in at Courtyard South Bend Downtown
Dinner at The Lauber
Dessert at South Bend Chocolate Company
Swimming at the Hotel
Day 2:
Breakfast at Uptown Kitchen and then heading home!
Activities:
7102 Lincolnway W Hwy, South Bend, IN
This is a dino-lovers paradise! Real dinosaur fossils, hands on “digging” experiences, and artifacts from the Jurassic Park movies are all available for visitors to view. They were also offering hayrides through the continental divide park to see Buffalo when we visited which was a fun way to get outside. If you are or have a dinosaur lover in your family, you will be very impressed. Stroller friendly for those with littles!
South Bend Chocolate Factory
7102 Lincolnway W Hwy, South Bend, IN
There are a few locations in South Bend, but the large factory is connected to the Indiana Dinosaur Museum and offers Chocolate Factory tours. You can also pop into the cafe for coffee or a sweet treat!
500 S Greenlawn Ave, South Bend, IN
Potawatomi Zoo provided one of the best zoo experiences we have ever had. The perks of a smaller zoo setting is that you get to experience more animals “up close.” We saw so many animals with the highlight of the trip being that we fed an actual giraffe! They also have a petting zoo area which was always my favorite thing about the zoo growing up, and was a hit with my kids.
Howard Park
219 S. St. Louis Blvd. South Bend, IN
Howard Park offers a 5-star playground experience, with restaurants nearby and access to the riverwalk. The playground is mulch/mud free, has a splash pad area, and offers equipment for kids of all ages.
Restaurants:
South Bend Public House
7102 Lincolnway W Hwy, South Bend, IN
Home of the “Upside Down Burger,” the South Bend Public house shares a parking lot with the Indiana Dinosaur Museum and the South Bend Chocolate Company. We walked over after our museum tour and sat outside in a private hut under twinkle lights! The outdoor space has areas for kids to run and play while you wait for your food and the food + service was fantastic! I’d recommend the Avocado Cobb with ranch, the roasted red pepper hummus, the Santa Fe burger and the Spicy Benny Burger.
The Lauber
504 E. Lasalle Ave. Suite 2 South Bend, IN
The vibes + atmosphere were right at The Lauber! This restaurant was family-friendly, but would also be a great spot for a date night or a night out with friends. We sat inside, but they had a super cute outdoor seating area with umbrellas and some couch seating. We would recommend the Dippity Dough Da with cheese, the rigatoni chicken, and The Tailgater pizza.
Uptown Kitchen
7225 Heritage Square Drive Granger, IN
We drove over to Granger (about ~10 min from downtown South Bend) for breakfast on our last day. Uptown Kitchen did not disappoint! Very family-friendly atmosphere with great savory and sweet options. The french toast was incredible and they serve LaVazza coffee!
Accommodations:
Courtyard South Bend Downtown
121 S Dr Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, South Bend, IN
We stayed in a two-room suite at the Courtyard Downtown South Bend and it worked perfectly for our family of five. The hotel was very clean and has a small pool on the main floor. It’s centrally located, only 5 minutes from Howard Park and across the street from a South Bend Chocolate Company cafe.
All in all, we loved our quick getaway to South Bend. We heard that they have an amazing ice rink in the winter that is a must see…we will be back!
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